Mental Health Professional II / ACS-IDD (Columbia Area)

Full Job Description

Are you passionate about making a real difference in people's lives? Join our team at the Office of Mental Health where we are dedicated to providing compassionate and accessible care to our community.

We are seeking a Mental Health Professional II who is motivated to help individuals and families navigate life's challenges and achieve long-term wellness.

If you want to use your skills to build a healthier, more resilient community, we encourage you to apply.

This position is located at the SC Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) - Office of Mental Health, Columbia Area Mental Health Center, Intellectual and Development Disabilities (IDD) Mental Health Program/ACS, CAMHC #019.

As the Mental Health Professional II, working under general supervision, you will provide assessment/counseling interventions/treatment to patients with serious mental illness, developmental disorders, and/or autism spectrum disorders and will ensure linkages for therapeutic needs to promote wellbeing for patients.

Responsibilities for this Mental Health Professional II:

Provide evidenced based services to children, adolescents, and adults; provide individual psychotherapy using developmentally adapted evidence-based practices.

Provide family therapy and caregiver coaching to support skill development at home and in the community.

Conduct intake assessments and treatment planning using IDD/Motivational Interviewing (MI)/Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED) appropriate tools and strategies.

Use trauma-informed, non-coercive crisis de-escalation strategies. Conduct modified suicide risk and crisis assessments that consider communication limitations. Develop Personal Safety Plan.

Modify therapeutic materials to meet the cognitive, sensory, and communication needs of each patient.

Incorporate visual supports, social stories, modeling, video modeling, and structured teaching strategies into therapy.

Ensure patients are seen as per Level of Care (LOC) guidelines; address patient barriers to services; ensure crisis are staffed; ensure internal and external customer satisfaction.

Meet patient care hour standards.

Work closely with families, caregivers, case managers, school personnel, residential staff, ABA providers, and other treatment team members. Participate in interdisciplinary meetings and provide input. Coordinate care to ensure consistency across settings.

Participate in ongoing professional development. Maintain license/certifications. Comply with training requirements. Attend supervision. Participate in other meetings as required.

Complete documentation in accordance to QI policies. Document services and contacts to patients. Keep billing disallowances to a minimum.

Produce outcomes and/or progress summaries that reflect patient improvement. Write objectives that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time limited.

Write objectives and interventions that address patients' SNAPs. Meet collaborative documentation standards.

Comply with the Office of Mental Health Compliance Plan and all legal responsibilities and requirements in performing their job duties.

Requirements

• A master's degree in guidance, counseling, the social science or related field, and professional experience in a mental health, human service or social service program.
• Two (2) years' experience in a clinical setting.

Qualifications

• Bilingual abilities in English and Spanish (or another language) are a plus.
• Licensure as a LPC, LISW, etc.

Additional Information

Post hire, employees must:

• Have sound theoretical knowledge of principles, methods, counseling practices, and procedures for the diagnosis and treatment of behavioral, developmental, austic, and mental disorders.
• Have the ability to listen, understand and effectively communicate information and ideas so that others will understand.
• Have some knowledge of psychopathology and patient management within the behavioral health setting.
• Have some knowledge of basic health and welfare services provided by other public and private agencies.
• Have the ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with individuals, families and representatives of other professional disciplines.
• Be able to follow all established OMH policies and procedures.
• Be able to bend, stoop, climb, drive from location to location, lift and file.
• Have critical judgement concerning service delivery.

The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions including, but not limited, to lactation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information.

Supplemental questions are considered part of your official application. Any misrepresentation will result in your disqualification from employment.

Please complete the state application to include all current and previous work history and education.

A resume will not be accepted nor reviewed to determine if an applicant has met the qualifications for the position.

The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities offers an exceptional benefits package for full time (FTE) employees:

• Health, dental, vision, long-term disability, and life insurance for employees, spouse, and children. Click here for additional information.
• 15 days annual (vacation) leave per year
• 15 days sick leave per year
• 13 paid holidays
• Paid Parental Leave
• S.C. Deferred Compensation Program available (S.C. Deferred Compensation)
• Retirement benefit choices *
  • State Retirement Plan (SCRS)
  • State Optional Retirement Program (State ORP)

*Enrollment in one of the listed plans is required for all FTE employees; please refer to the contribution section of hyperlinked retirement sites for the current contribution rate of gross pay.